Olive Newman, a charter member with St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, remembers when Pastor Morris Niedenthal first knocked on her door in 1957.

“My husband and I had just returned from South Carolina the night before and were very tired,” Newman said. “My husband answered the door in his pajamas and asked him if he could come back later. And he did.”

Niedenthal, then a young minister with the Lutheran Church in America, had come to Columbia to start a Lutheran church.

On Feb. 9, 1958, 75 charter members were present at a formal organization service at the Labor Temple on Garth Avenue. In December 1961, the first worship service was held at the Lutheran church located at 914 S. West Blvd., where the congregation still meets.

Now, 50 years later, St. Andrew’s is celebrating the anniversary of this first service with a theme that echoes Psalm 100, “God’s faithfulness to all generations.”

St. Andrew’s major anniversary celebration will be held April 20. Festivities include dinner and featured speaker Daniel J. Lehmann, MU journalism graduate and editor of The Lutheran magazine.

However, the actual celebration began on Aug. 15, 2007, with an event to commemorate the first formal gathering of those committed to establishing a Lutheran congregation in Columbia, said Wayne Porath, chair of the anniversary committee. At the festivities, members prayed for guidance regarding the future of the congregation.

Community service and outreach has been an important focus throughout the anniversary celebrations, Porath said. Members from the congregation are raising funds for a house they will construct with Habitat for Humanity this summer.

“I hope more and more that our energy will be directed outwardly into the community,” Porath said.

Throughout its 50 years, St. Andrew’s has grown to approximately 750 members.

Growth can also be seen through the church building’s expansion. In 1978, the Centrum, where the church now holds worship services, was added. The congregation then added education and fellowship space in 1991.

The eight charter members who are still active in the congregation are Petey Bank, Ruby Jackson, Liz Strong, Olive Newman, Barb Baker, Red and Dorcas Leighton and Betty Palmer.

The congregation has been led by pastor Paul Moessner since 1986. In 1995, Julie Will joined the congregation as associate pastor.